Lysimachia fortunei - Loosestrife

Lysimachia fortunei is native to East Asia. It embodies robustness. This perennial thrives in moist and cool soils. In summer, it displays tall spikes densely filled with delicate white flowers, emerging above elegant, bright green foliage that turns dark green and takes on sumptuous red-orange hues in autumn. It is an accommodating plant, easy to integrate into the garden, in full sun or partial shade.

Lysimachia fortunei belongs to the Primulaceae family. It is a superb species with a weakly suckering root from which flexible and ramified stems emerge, forming a luxuriant mass with a dense and upright habit, later arching, reaching 80cm (32in) in height and 60cm (24in) in diameter. It carries beautiful glabrous, leathery and shiny foliage, starting as a bright green and turning dark green, then taking on splendid red-orange tones in autumn. Between the summer flowering and the autumn foliage, it is hard to say which is more beautiful! The flowering occurs between June and August, when numerous spikes rise above the foliage. They are tall, slightly tapering and arched, covered in small white bell-shaped flowers that open from the base to the top. The deciduous foliage is composed of elongated, slender, pointed and entire leaves, reminiscent of buddleias, ranging from light green to bright green, then dark green, ending in a flamboyant bouquet in autumn. This plant has a powerful root system, which is very useful for stabilising soil.

Lysimachia fortunei will find its place in all moist areas of the garden, where the soil never dries out. Associate it with other plants that appreciate moisture, such as willowherbs, marsh mallows, meadowsweets, hostas, and ferns. It is perfect for banks with well-drained soil, which it will help stabilise. However, it can do without having its feet in water and will be satisfied with deep soil, in the company of rhubarb, angelica, oriental poppies, and foxgloves.